#OccupyNigeria protesters take on news media coverage

Protesters
in Nigeria are not only angry at their government's New Year's Day decision to eliminate
a fuel subsidy -- they are also upset about news media coverage of the
citizens' movement, dubbed "Occupy Nigeria," and have taken their protests to
local media outlets.

According to news
reports, on Thursday, protesters descended on the studios of at least two
prominent broadcasters, the state-run national public broadcaster Nigerian
Television Authority (NTA) and the private Africa Independent Television (AIT),
to demand more balanced coverage. Protesters managed to enter NTA studios in
the commercial capital of Lagos and persuade the journalists to record and
broadcast live images of the protests, the reports said. Historically, the
government has maintained close relationships to even the private broadcasters
in Nigeria, leaving the print media with the most independent voice.

The actions followed expressions of anger over the press
coverage on social media, particularly Twitter, where the hash tag #OccupyNigeria
has become a global trend since January 3, according to Trendistic.

"NTA fools showing us how to swim when thr are better things
to know!" read a tweet by
@I_Am_Shattay. "Massive media campaign to promote subsidy removal, misleading,
and further waste of money #occupynigeria #shameonGEJ" tweeted
Louis Monye, blasting President Goodluck Jonathan. Jonathan opened a public Facebook page in 2010, and
the transcript of a January 7 national address about the fuel subsidy posted
there drew more than 15,000 comments of support and mostly opposition to the
policy change.

Some suggested the media should take the side of the
protesters. "It's only the truth that will set us free in dis country! The
media sud cooperate wiv the masses and stop being biased!!!!" tweeted
@topinpin.

Eventually, there were calls to action on twitter. "Its Time
We #OccupyNTA ... they Aint carrying the News..." said @Full_depth
on January 5. Aliyu Bappa went further
:"#OccupyNTA till they broadcast #occupynaija live to the #world." Aminu Tama called
on protesters to "Occupy NTA anywhere in Nigeria, they must show the protest."

Opinions were mixed about coverage on independent Channels
TV. Paid agent. [...] Channels is working with govt to use media propaganda to
confuse..." tweeted
@ogbagogo. "Gd analysis 4rm sum of d contributors on #channelstv #OccupyNigeria,"
tweeted
Louis Monye on January 11. "Amongst the many broadcast stations TVC stood out.
Showin Live uninteruptd broadcast encouragd people who came out to support," tweeted
@iykecedamaestro on January 9.

For @nature_gurl, "If you support subsidy removal,
watch NTA; If you are against it, watch Channels TV; If you are confused, watch
AIT," she tweeted
on January 12.

International media also came under fire for what was
perceived as too little coverage. "Know it's not a famine, but could we have
some coverage please from the Western media," tweeted
writer and author Aminata Forna on Thursday. "I think the lack of news on the
whole #occupyNigeria movement is because western media thinks it's just about
gas prices/oil subsidy," tweeted
@mmmchocolatey.

For some, new media was the order of the day. "NTA is old
media. SHUT THEM DOWN," tweeted
@boycottPDP. "If traditional local media won't work for #OccupyNigeria, invade
socialmedia without limits until the whole world hears," said
Collins Olua. "Take pictures. Record
videos. Share via twitter, facebook, youtube, etc. They'll encourage others to
join us, and tell the world our story!" tweeted
Gbenga Sesan.

In the race for relevancy, big players in the print media
used Twitter to invite citizen reporters to contribute reporting. "As Labour
strike begins... report protest in your area!" tweetedVanguard newspaper on January 10.

"The beauty of social media is that I control d information
I want people to hear. I won't let people listen to lies from govt," said @ekekeee.
One professional journalist, however, tried to temper this romantic vision of
citizen reporting with a word of advice. "Please use Social Media responsibly
and only broadcast what you have confirmed," tweeted
broadcast presenter Aderonke Adebanjo.

Mohamed Keita is advocacy coordinator for CPJ's Africa Program. Keita has written about independent journalism and development in sub-Saharan Africa for publications including The New York Times and Africa Review, and has appeared on NPR, the BBC, Al-Jazeera, and Radio France Internationale. Keita has also given presentations on press freedom at the World Bank, U.S. State Department, and universities. Follow him on Twitter: @africamedia_CPJ.

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